Articles tagged: yard design
<< previous page 1 2 next page>> written by Vk Melhado Hydrangeas: This delicate looking plant is actually a pretty tough cookie and doesn't mind wind and salt. It's wise to plant it in a partially shaded area where it will get the morning sun and afternoon shade. Set up an irrigation drip for this one, hydrangeas don't tolerate drought very well. To keep it blooming, trim off the old flowers as soon as they start to fade. written by RE Writer In most of the U.S. and parts of Canada, winter vegetables can thrive, given a little thought as to the location and preparation of the garden. Hardy vegetables can thus be produced in the winter and spring with relatively little effort. The winter months are also a good time to grow vegetables with less effort, as weeds are less likely to compete with your vegetables for the soil and are easy to remove. written by RE Writer Here are some examples of the plants that can be grown from market fruits. This is by no means an exhaustive list – you can find more information on the Internet or your local nursery. written by Lynn Bulmer Adding unusual shapes to a deck creates interest and adds a sense of style. Cut off the corners or create a kidney bean shape and voila, your deck becomes an artistic focal point. Instead of the boring rectangular trellis, get creative and shape it with curves or a wave design. written by RE Writer Weed and feed your lawn if it's the right season for it and take a bit of time to properly edge the lawn to give it a sharp, well-maintained look. Give your flowerbeds a thorough weeding, trim back plants or trees that are overgrown. Make sure that your fence is in good repair and appears clean and in good shape. Re-stain or paint it if it needs freshening up. written by Lynn Bulmer A person could hold a paint chip against pieces of furniture, window treatments and flooring, but he won't know if everything flows harmoniously until the entire room is painted. When the room is completed, if he doesn't like it, he's just wasted a great deal of time and money, and will need to start the color selection process all over again. written by Vk Melhado Here is a list of some of the tropical fruit trees you're most likely to have success with in the South Florida climate. In an effort to inspire you, we've, also included some of the more exotic varieties you may never have heard of. written by RE Writer Now that the sun is shining, we'll be spending more time on the deck. Devote some time to cleaning your outdoor furniture and it will be all set for another season. Practice some of these simple tips every year to keep your furniture looking great. written by RE Writer The warmer months are fast approaching, so now's an excellent time to focus your attention on your outdoor living space. One thing that can be a true godsend in the middle of summer is to have covered area outside that provides inviting shade and protection from the sun's rays. written by Nelson Stewart Create a barrier to contain your rock that may include using railroad ties or 2 x 4's, stone or brick, and stretch out a base of landscape fabric to prevent weeds. You don't want to be distracted by thoughts of weed pulling or fertilizing. written by Jerry Clifford With the addition of a wood fired oven, there's no need to order out; you can have your own backyard pizzeria. Along with backyard kitchens, wood fired ovens have grown in popularity, becoming the latest "must have" item with people who love good food and enjoy entertaining. written by Vk Melhado Soaker Hoses: Make your own soaker hose by crimping the open end and drilling some holes throughout the hose. Bury it just under the soil around your plants and fill with water. It will keep your plants watered for days. written by Matt Barker There are a lot of plans and instructions out on the Internet and provided by hardware supply companies and there is really no limit to the kind of structure one can build, provided that the rules and laws governing one's property are adhered to. It's a good idea to get a copy of your area's zoning laws to find out if you need a permit to build the workshop you're planning on. written by RE Writer While neighbor opinion and zoning regulations won't affect your home's value, being slapped with a fine for having a structure that is not permitted by zoning will relieve you of cash, either through paying the fine or fighting it in court. Finding out how the law applies to your tree house and consulting with your neighbors may well save you time and money in the long run. written by Christian Jacobsen It may be prudent for you to consult with a landscaping professional as to the best place for this feature. The placement is important, so that the maximum amount of runoff flows into the garden. The lowest point on your property is usually the best. You should be on the lookout for man made structures, such as foundation and utilities. written by Lesa Parham Provide a variety of vegetation to provide not only a food source, but nesting area, and protection from predators or the elements. Have some ground cover, flower vines, trees and shrubs. Make sure there are lots of nooks and crannies for quick getaways. written by Marci McFarland Because of the expense, many people think of attempting to do the job themselves. There are probably the odd injuries sustained, but worse than a minor accident to you is a major accident to the house. You do not want a 're-build reno' because your poplar tree went through the roof and landed up on your living room carpet! written by Josh Sloan Sometimes, the simple act of cutting a pathway and placing two trees in large pots each side of the front door can make an immediate difference. However, the pathway must have neat edges to look really effective (this applies to curved pathways as well). A simple manual edging tool (rather like a half moon on the end of a stick) is very cheap to buy. written by RE Writer In a Cost Plus scenario, the builder provides an estimate that fluctuates based on the actual end cost of building. So if the kitchen runs an extra $2000 because of those cherry cupboards you have to have, the cost of building is increased as well. On the other hand, if you can find a deal on material, or agree to do some of the work yourself, the customer celebrates the lower costs. We started scanning our builder's estimate, analyzing where we could pitch in to save. written by Lauren Kline Grass is good, but gets worn out in areas of high traffic, so mulch is a better option. Gravel is also used, but depending on the age of your children it can become a throwing hazard and may be messy to clean up. written by Lauren Kline Choose a site that's well away from any buildings, fences, shrubs, overhanging trees and anything else that might catch fire. You may also want to consider the neighbors: if you aren't on good terms, putting the pit downwind from their property will only add fuel to the fire. written by Justin Havre On the bright side, if you love a beautiful garden, the possibilities here are nearly endless and starting from scratch gives you free reign to develop an outdoor space that truly suits your needs. written by RE Writer Make sure that your second circle is substantially smaller than the first, to give room for plants in some of the 'spaces' of soil between the two layers of rocks. Fill in the center again with soil as before and prepare to plant your rock plants. written by RE Writer One of the easiest rock features to create is one that has a rustic stone bird bath or sun dial in the center and rocks and alpine plants cascading down from it. Other styles can include flat ledges of rock 'wedged' into the grass in layers to give the appearance of a natural outcrop of rock. written by Christian Jacobsen We all love them, especially when they are already set up and running! There are many reasons why a water feature draws everyone's attention: they are often unique, it can be hypnotizing to watch the never ending motion of water and it is said that the sound of running water is relaxing. written by RE Writer Tea surpasses even coffee as the world's favorite infused water drink. To be properly called "tea", the main ingredient needs to be leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant, a native of east Asia. written by Karrie Rose Fu Dogs were actually Chinese depictions of lions, but since lions are not native to China, the original artists were stuck using the next closest model at hand, which would have been the larger domestic dogs used for guardianship purposes. written by Gary Ashton Other factors to consider are parking places for vehicles, storage space, a pool, fountain or pond option and whether you want a sprinkler system. written by RE Writer Fresh, locally grown food will have a higher nutritional content than food that was picked and then shipped, and you know which chemicals, if any, it's been treated with. If you can't eat the entire harvest yourself or don't have time to pick it all, offer your trees to local food banks or a deserving friend. written by Louise Scoggins Often fads in home design are ignored by many because they are just that: fads. However, the outdoor living idea is being adopted by the majority, perhaps because it is something many of us were already doing. << previous page 1 2 next page>> |